How to create a botanical garden

Assess your room:
Firstly, as with any home decorating, it’s important to work with the space you have - although it’s true that you can never have too many plants, leaves and vines in any one space (as the beautiful shot below perfectly demonstrates) it’s always vital to gear your botanical approach around your space and home; filling a small room with oversized leaves will make the room feel even smaller, for example.

Think outside the box:
Adding a botanical element to your home doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to head straight to the nearest garden centre… why not experiment with artwork, prints and ‘wow factor’ wallpaper for an edgy take on the trend? Ideal for adding drama, this wallpaper design expertly combines the dark, moody hues so suited to a cosy winter feel, with the pretty pinks and softer tones adding femininity for year-round perfection. Team with pale solid woods and fresh white furniture for contrast…

Suit your tastes:
If the thought of turning your home into an indoor greenhouse has you running for the weedkiller then fret not, you can still have the botanical look without a flowerpot in sight. A parred back, minimalist approach to the trend using simplistic framed prints and pressed leaves offers a fuss-free, grown-up and sophisticated feel.

You’re out of excuses:
That’s right. I’m afraid the botanical trend really does work for every single home / building / office / camper van / barn / warehouse… there is no excuse not to adopt this beautifully natural and vibrant look in at least one corner of your home.

Here’s what Jo Bailey says about adding a botanical touch to your home…

“I would consider plants in the home to be as important as the furniture, paint and fixings. Not only do they have massive health benefits but they’re also a great way to freshen up your interiors with a small budget.

When deciding on plants for my home I consider two things: where receives the most sunlight (this doesn’t need to be direct light, in fact better if it’s not!), and how much space do I have; when plants get a little bigger they’ll need re-potting. I’d start with a hardy cactus or succulent before trying more leafy plants, which will need watering much more often. For homes which have little daylight why not use hanging baskets to display plants in the window - they are lots of really fun designs available these days.

It’s of course important to care for your plants - I recommend re-potting plants out of the plastic containers when you buy them in into terracotta pots - make sure you chose the ones with drainage holes!”

Jo’s top tip: use Baby Bio in the water once a fortnight for healthier leaves